摘　要

语言是文化的载体，对反映各民族文化起到重要作用。英语委婉语作为语言的一个分支，其使用范围涉及社会及生活的方方面面。无论在中国还是西方国家，它都是一种常见的和长期存在的语言文化现象。它广泛应用于各个领域，在我们的生活中扮演着一个重要的角色。作为一种委婉的，含蓄的语言表达方式，委婉语有助于加强人际关系和跨文化交流。本文通过研究英语委婉语的起源，定义及其形成原因，主要分析了英语委婉语的交际功能，并通过对比国内外专家学者对英语委婉语的研究，对其翻译方法做了初步探讨。这有助于我们在学习和跨文化交际中更好地掌握和运用它，以期达到在实际翻译工作中加强对委婉语的理解和交流之目的，减少交际障碍，最终促进中西方文化的长远交流与共同繁荣。

关键词：英语委婉语；定义；交际功能；翻译

Abstract

Language is the mirror and carrier of culture and it plays a very important role in reflecting the cultural connotation in every region. English euphemism as a branch of language, its use scope involves all aspects of society and life. It is a common and long-standing linguistic and cultural phenomenon both in China and western countries. It is widely used in every field and plays an essential role in our daily lives. As a euphemistic and implicit language method, it helps strengthen the interpersonal relationship and the cross-cultural communication. Thus, the paper will at first introduce the origin, definition, occurring of euphemism and mainly present its communicative functions. Then it will have a comprehensive and thorough analysis to the features and translation methods of English euphemism through comparing the researches that the scholars have done both at home and abroad. It can help to remove more language and cultural barriers in intercultural communication, strengthen the understanding of euphemism so as to promote the long-term exchanges and common prosperity of Chinese and western culture.

Key words: English euphemism; definition; communicative functions; translation

1 Introduction
Euphemism is a common phenomenon in the process of using language, which is often used as a more polite way when people talking about those unhappy or embarrassing things. “And they are embedded so deeply in our language that few of us, even those who pride themselves on being plain-spoken, ever get through a day without using them” (Rawson, 1981:1). Speaking in the euphemistic way is a universal trait. Robert Burchfield (2000: 512) even remarked that “a language without euphemisms would be a defective instrument of communication.” It is not only a kind of social phenomenon of language, but also a cultural phenomenon. Along with the progress of the society and the development of human civilization, the euphemism has always been with the whole social speech communicating process, showing a strong verbal communicating function. However, because of the differences in the historical background, customs, and the characteristics of language between the Chinese and English, the translation of euphemism has a lot of ambiguity. So it is more and more important to discuss about the euphemism communicating function and its translation.